A school leader's skill and ability to provide support is critical and is often all that is needed to assist staff through the normal recovery after stressful incidents.
Resilience is the ability of an individual to recover from stress, traumatic events, and adverse situations. It's about building a foundation that will increase performance and help individuals deal with stress and/or traumatic events.
Research has taught us that many teachers have physical and mental health concerns that, if identified and treated early, have the potential to be temporary and reversible.
Mitigating the impact of stress
Stress countermeasures are designed to apply the brakes to our central nervous system and manage the impact of stress on the body and mind.
Goal Setting
Goals provide direction, feedback and motivation. A goal should be out of reach, but not out of sight.
Visualisation
Visualisation involves mentally preparing yourself for the "what ifs". It is about predicting possible problems and working out a solution in advance.
Self Talk
It is not an event that leads to our emotions and behaviour but rather our thoughts about this event.
  • Become aware of self-talk
  • Stop the negative, replace with a positive
  • Use key words Ready - Focus - Persist - Overcome - Confident
Tactical Breathing
  • The rule of 4's
  • Inhale to a count of 4
  • Hold breath for a count of 4
  • Exhale to a count of 4
  • Repeat for 4 minutes.
The role of friends and colleagues
Most people say they made it through stressful and traumatic events because of their friends and coworkers. Providing basic peer support is crucial to keeping each other healthy. Social support does not need to be complicated and it is not therapy. Sometimes the simplest actions are the best.
The role of leaders
Leaders must establish a climate which acknowledges that teachers may become overwhelmed with the personal issues they struggle with the personal issues they struggle with. The only way teachers will be open to receiving help is if the environment in which they work endorses that getting help is OK.
School leaders have to be willing to talk to their staff and listen to what they have to say. Leaders have to send the message that they are interested in hearing what is going on with their team members.
Seeking help in times of distress displays courage, strength, responsibility and good judgement.
Recognition and Support
  • Know the members of your team, help them learn the skills they need
  • Be on the lookout for sudden changes in behaviour and performance
  • Ask teachers how they are handling the workload, and how things are at home
  • Offer encouragement and recognition
  • If you are concerned about someone, talk to them about how they are doing.

Promoting positive mental health in teachers.

Pathways to Teacher Mental Health – 2019

All images were taken at workshops presented by Michael Auden to schools around Australia.
​Bring a positive pathway to mental health workshop to your school. Contact info@moned.net 

A positive mental health program for schools

This comprehensive program aims to assist school leaders and teachers to cope with the pressures of working in Australian schools.  Stress and burnout amongst men and women in Australian schools is at epidemic proportions.  Women invest themselves emotionally in the lives of the people they come into contact with in schools. Both men and women need strategies and support to deal with the emotional overload of life in an Australian school.

The Pathways to Teacher Mental Health – 2019 is founded on four emotional literacy themes.
​Let's Talk - a program to get school staff talking about issues that impact their mental health
The Dark Side - a program to explore stress, burnout, identity and self esteem
Moving Forward - a program to assist individual build awareness and skills to maintain emotional balance
Collegial Resilience - a program to help school communities support each staff member

Let's Talk - a suite of resources to encourage reflection and discussion on issues impacting on mental health
Contents
  • Work life balance
  • Why teach
  • My body is telling me...
  • What makes teachers tick?
  • Teacher conversations
  • Teacher engagement
The Dark Side - a suite of resources to explore stress, burnout and lose of motivation
Contents
  • This is how I feel
  • Teacher stressors
  • Thinking traps
  • Setting boundaries
  • Saying no
  • Ask a man
  • Feeling undervalued in the workplace​
Moving Forward - a suite of resources for women to create awareness and to implement coping strategies
Contents
  • Teacher review questionnaire
  • Knowing yourself
  • My contribution
  • Coping strategies
  • Character strengths
  • My strengths
  • Looking after myself
  • Breathe
  • Mindfulness
  • Choosing to be happy
  • Stress workbook
  • Thinking traps
  • School blues - teachers edition
  • Self-empowerment guidebook
  • My teaching voice
Collegial Resilience - a suite of resources to maintain a happy and healthy school-wide approach to teaching and leadership.
Contents
  • Strong teachers are role models
  • The female brain
  • Building a better workplace
  • Shared goals
  • School culture
  • Emotional literacy
  • Choosing to be happy
  • Resilience
  • Relaxation workbook
  • Strong relationships and communication
  • Resilient school staff
  • Motivation to teach
  • Questions for teachers
  • Questions for school leaders​
Order - Pathways to Teacher Mental Health – 2019
Email the following details to info@moned.net  
Please supply a digital copy of
​___ Pathways to Teacher Mental Health – 2019 USB $159 No GST payable
Also receive a free copy of School Mental Health Day – a full day’s mental health program for teachers valued at $99
​Name
Email
School
Order number (NSW public schools should order through EDConnect)
Postal address
Postcode
 
Email your order to info@moned.net
Michael Auden
NSW EDConnect supplier number 100387105
Qld Supplier number S20039316
ABN 39 929 256 117
15 Dewbay Court Claremont Tasmania 7011